Aerial advertising device.



No. 635,697. Patented Oct. 24, I899. .I. H. MENKENS.

AERIAL ADVERTISING DEVICE.

(Application filed Nov. 1, 1898.)

(No Model.)

A pvw WITNESSES ATTORNEY Lvmm wunwevow o c NITED STATES PATENT Enron.

JOHN II. MENKENS, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO LOUIS G. LAUREAU, OF SAME PLACE.

AERiAL ADVERTISING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,697, dated October 24, 1899.

Application filed November 1, 1898. Serial No. 695,193. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY MENKENS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Aerial Advertising Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of advertising devices displayed at night in' the open air by means of opaque sheets or screens upon which advertisements are projected. Heretofore these advertising screens have been placed in rigid frames attached to the walls of buildings or else they have been stretched across streets and roadways, their point of attachment being stationary, so that the screens or sheets remained practically at the same vertical height all the time. Balloons have also been used to raise transparencies or luminous letters forming advertisements in the air, this system necessitating thepulling down of the balloon every time a change of advertising matter is made.

The object of my invention is to cause the opaque sheets for hearing the projected advertising matter to be raised at varying heights in the air above the houset-ops, thereby calling the attention of passers-by in a manner at once startling and novel, and to project successively upon the raised screens or sheets a series of advertisements without bringing down the lifting apparatus, the source of illumination being external to and removed from the screens or sheets.

In the practice of my invention I take a plain or blank opaque sheet of proper dimensions and I provide it with a frame made of light material, such as wood, aluminium, or thin tubing. I then attach the frame, with its contained sheet, to the aerost-at, consisting of one or several kites or one or several balloons, according to the weight to be sustained. I preferably use kites, as balloons are expensive and unreliable, since they may become deflated, and thus lose their power to sustain the weight of the sheet in the air. I prefer to attach the sheet or its frame to the rope holding the aerostat after it has been raised up to a certain distance above the startin gpoint. I may use guy-ropes attached to any part of the frame holding the sheet to keep said sheet in 'a comparatively quiescent state after it has been raised to the proper height.

Vhen using my device, I provide a projection apparatus or stereopticon, such as commonly used on stationary screens. I place this apparatus on a ball-and-socket or universal joint, so that it may be swung in all directions. By this means figures may be projected upon the screen as it is raised or moved by changes of strength and direction of the wind.

In the accompanying drawings, to which reference shall now be made for a more co1nplete understanding of lnyiiwention, Figure 1 represents the device when a balloon is used as the aerostat. The balloon a, which is held at the desired elevation by the rope, cord, or wire 6, holds in the air the blank or plain opaque screen or sheet Z), upon which successive advertisements may be displayed by means of a stereopticon. Fig. 2 represents the device when kites are used as the aerostat. Two kites c 0, shown in the drawings as of the ordinary diamond shape and provided with ropes e, are raised in the usual 1nannerthat is, by running with cords (not shown) attached to the center of the kite until the kite is caught in the wind. The screen I) is then attached to the ropes c and the kites permitted to rise by paying out the ropes e to carry the screen to the desired height. .Vhen box-kites are used, (and I prefer that form,) the manner of raising the kites is substantially the same as just described. These kites, however, rise more readily and therefore do not require as much running. Ireferably with both the balloon and the kites, for the purpose of keeping the sheet comparatively steady, guy-ropes f are attached to the frames holding the sheets. The stereopticon (Z throws the desired advertising matter on the screen.

In a city the station would usually be on a roof, so that the advertising would appear high above surrounding structures, thus attracting unusual attention by its elevated position.

I am aware that stereopticons have been used to projectadvertisements on stationary sheets, and I am also aware that flags have been raised by means of kites. I am also aware that it has been proposed to raise internally or self illuminated advertisements by means of balloons. I therefore do not claim the same; but

What I claim is-- As a device for night aerial advertising, an

aerostat having suspended therefrom a blank opaque screen adapted to receive successive advertisements from a projecting apparatus J. H. MENKENS.

lVitnesses:

J. J. Srlns, LOUIS Sunovrs. 

